Dear colleagues, friends, patients and family,
I hope you are all enjoying your summer! Here are some updates about a popular diabetes and weight loss medication and potential ocular side effects.
Ozempic (semaglutide) has become a very popular drug for both diabetes control and used off-label for weight loss. A similar medication, Wegovy, is approved for obesity treatment.
The way these medications work is by releasing a hormone that makes one feel full when eating and also stimulates the body to create more insulin, which reduces the blood glucose.
As the glucose levels change in the body, this causes the natural lens to change shape which can lead to blurred vision. Fortunately this is usually a temporary side effect of the medication which can be expected to resolve after several months. In those with diabetic retinopathy, it is possible that as the glucose becomes better controlled, the retinopathy can become temporarily worse. It is therefore very important to continue to see your ophthalmologist regularly and to inform them of changes in your medication.
The decision to consider this class of medication for diabetes or obesity control is one that should be made between you and your primary care physician. There is no substitute for making good choices in both diet and engaging in moderate exercise for your eye and overall health. In fact, a recent study showed that mice who were exercised had a reduced incidence of macular degeneration. More on that in a future newsletter!
Enjoy the lovely weather and I look forward to seeing you and your family and friends at the office!
Services we offer
- LASIK starting at $799/eye
- Cataract surgery with advanced technology implants
- Diabetic eye care
- Glaucoma and Macular Degeneration management
Call 313.563.3937 to Experience Excellence in Eye Care
Michelle Akler, MD
Akler Eye Center
Sterling Heights & Dearborn
Akler Eye Center is one of the top laser eye & LASIK surgery centers in Detroit, Michigan.
